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Helpful Organizations

Council of State GovernmentsEstablished in 1933, the Council of State Governments is the only multi-branch state association in the nation. It offers leadership training, provides research and information products, and focuses on regional problem-solving in an effort to increase states' efficiency and productivity. It keeps offices across the United States that staff regional associations of legislative and executive officials.

Energy Communities AllianceEnergy Communities Alliance is an organization of local governments that are impacted by Department of Energy (DOE) activities. Its mission is to have local government officials in Department of Energy-impacted communities share information, establish policy positions, and advocate community interests in order to address a complicated set of constituent, environmental, regulatory, and economic development needs.

ICLEI USAICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve, and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. As the only global organization helping cities and counties of all sizes achieve energy and climate planning goals, ICLEI provides tools and resources, delivers innovative programming, and fosters a robust network of local governments both in the U.S. and around the world who are catalyzing effective ways to combat climate pollution and scaling local sustainability efforts.

National Association of CountiesThe National Association of Counties was founded in 1935 when county officials wanted to have a strong voice in the nation's capital. Its membership includes more than 2,000 counties, representing over 80 percent of the nation's population. As a full-service organization, it provides an extensive array of services including legislative, research, technical, and public affairs assistance, as well as enterprise services to its members

National Association of Regulatory Utility CommissionersThe National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) mission is to serve the public interest by improving the quality and effectiveness of public utility regulation. Its membership includes the governmental agencies that regulate utilities and carriers in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its member agencies are responsible for regulating the activities of telecommunications, energy, and water utilities.

National Association of State Energy OfficialsThe National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is the only organization that represents the designated energy officials from each state and territory. The organization was created to improve the effectiveness and quality of state energy programs and policies, provide policy input and analysis, share successes among the states, and be a repository of information on energy issues of concern to the states and their citizens.

National Association of State Utility Consumer AdvocatesThe National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) is an association of 44 consumer advocates in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Its members are designated by the laws of their respective jurisdictions to represent the interests of utility consumers before state and federal regulators and in the courts.

National Conference of Black MayorsThe National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) was created in 1974. It serves over 500 mayors nationwide, who in turn represent more than 30 million citizens. Its mission is to enhance the executive management capacity of its members for the purpose of governing viable municipalities.

National Conference of State LegislaturesThe National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) was founded in 1975. As a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states and territories, it provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing and urgent state issues.

National League of CitiesThe National League of Cities (NLC) is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, the National League of Cities serves as a resource to and an advocate for more than 18,000 cities, villages, and towns that it represents.

National Governors AssociationThe National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s most respected public policy organizations. It provides governors and their senior staff with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing policy reports on innovative state programs and hosting networking seminars for state government executive branch officials. It also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors.

New England Governors ConferenceThe New England Governors' Conference (NEGC) was established in 1937 by the governors of the six state New England region to promote economic development. It coordinates regional policy programs in the areas of economic development, transportation, environment, energy, and health, among others.

Southern Governors AssociationThe Southern Governors Association is the oldest of the regional governors' associations. Since its founding, it has represented the common interests of its fifteen state membership and provided a vehicle for promoting them. The current priorities of the organization are to support the work of the governors by providing a bipartisan, regional forum to help shape and implement national policy and to resolve state and regional problems.

United States Conference of MayorsThe U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of greater than 30,000. Currently, there are 1,139 such cities in the country today and each is represented in the Conference by its mayor. The primary functions of the Conference of Mayors are to promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy, strengthen ties with the federal government, ensure that federal policy meets urban needs, and to create an environment in which mayors can share ideas and information.

Western Governors AssociationWith eighteen member states, the Western Governors Association (WGA) is the largest of the regional governors' associations. Its agenda includes: developing sustainable economies and land use practices, strengthening state and federal energy policy, improving drought preparedness and ensuring Western water supply and quality, and maintaining healthy forests and rangelands.